Safe-protecting device



w c BECKWITH SAFE PROTECTING DEVICE- 1,408,495. Pa en ed Mar- 7, 1922.. I 2 SHEETS-$HEET l- APPLlCATlON FILED APR 19 1921 'IIIIIII w arrow;

W. C. BECKWITH.

SAFE PROTECTING DEVICE- APPLICATION FILED APR. 19. 1921.

UNITED STATES WALTER G. BEOKWITH, OF FOSTORIA, OHIO.

SAFE-PROTECTING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters latent.

Application filed April 19, 1921. Serial No. 462,772.

To all 10 from it may concern Be it known that T, WALTER C. BncKw-i'rrr, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Fostoria, in the county of Seneca and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Safe-Protecting Devices, of which the following is a specification.

The object of the present invention is to provide means whereby the unauthorized opening of a safe or vault by means of explosives will cause air poisioning noxious, pungent, or poisonous fumes, odors or vapors to be liberated with consequent dis astrous results to persons in the immediate vicinity.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will be in part apparent and in part described as the specification is proceeded with.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device secured in its casing;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the device with a portion of the casing and the securin means shown in section;

Figure 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure 2 showing the fluid carrying member or container;

Figure 4 is a sectional View. on the line 4& of Figure 2 showing the movable hinged member or flap and the parts carried thereby; and

Figure 5 is a detail sectional view through the air inlet opening and the air conduit associated therewith.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 1 denotes a metallic receptacle preferably of flat rectangular shape in which any suitable air poisoning agent is contained. The receptacle is filled in any suit able manner by means of the normally closed opening 2 at the top of the receptacle Extending from a, point adjacent to but slightly below the top of the receptacle to the bottom thereof is an air conduit 3 for a purpose presently to be described.

A thin preferably rectangular metallic plate or flap 4 is of a size approximating that of the container 1, is hingedly connected at its upper edge as by means of hinges to the container. Mounted on the under or inner face of this plate or flap iare two spaced bowed springs 6 and 7 and a pair of pointed projections 8 and 9, said projections being adapted to register with and puncture the frangible coverings 10 and 11 of a pair of openings 12 and 13, when the said flap is violently forced downwardly and inwardly towards the outer face or the container. The opening 12 communicateswith the interior of the container thus permitting the poisoning gases to escape therethrough under the conditions just mentioned and the opening 13 communicates with the air conduit 3 thus placing the top of container 1 in communication with the atmosphere through said conduit andthereby facilitating the escape of the air poisoning gas. In order to prevent the escape of the entire contents of the container too rapidly I partially fill the container with pumice stone 30 or other absorbent material.

For convenience the container 1 is kept in a suitable receptacle such as a miniature case 18, being secured therein by means of brackets 16 and 17 as best illustrated in Figure 2. This receptacle is placed in the safe or' vault at night inropen position, preferably adjacent the door opening of the safe, the flap 4: of course being first moved to the full line position shown in Figure 2.

Patented Mar. '7, 1922.

The concussion incident to blowing the container can be stored in any convenient place.

In order to guard against accidental puncturing of the covering for the gas outlet opening when the device is not in use, I provide an angle arm 28, pivoted to the receptacle as at 29. When this arm is in the .full line position shown in Figure 2, the free end 35 thereof will extend. over the edge of the receptacle and prevent closing of the lid or cover 36. This will serve as a warning to the person in charge of the device to first swing the flap 4: to dotted line position, and then swing the arm 28 to are in this position the cover or lid may be closed and the flap will be maintained in V dotted line position. When the flap and arm elevated position and consequently there will be no danger of accidental puncturing of the gas outlet.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is:

1. Protective means for safes or the like comprising a container for holding a normally confined air poisoning agent, said container formed with a gas outlet opening, an air conduit in said container having an inlet openin frangible means for covering said openings, and means connected to said container for simultaneously puncturing said frangible means poisoning agent.

2. Protective means for safes or the like comprisinga container for holding a normally confined air poisoning agent, said container having an outlet a frangible cover for said opening, a flap hingedly connected to the outer face of said container, a pointed projection carried by said flap adapted to pierce said cover when said flap is forced inwardly toward said container.

to liberate said air In testimony whereof I affix iny signature. 25

XVALTER C. BECKW'IITH. 

